Apparatus for crowning annealing boxes



'A. R. MCARTHUR APPARATUS FOR cRowNING ANNEALING BOXES Filed March 24, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 25, 1928.

A. R. MCARTHUR APPARATUS FOR CRQWNING ANNEALINGBOXES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1926 Dec. 25, 1928.

Filed March 24, 1926 5 Sheets-,Sheet mvsses."

Invention' ,4er/fue E. /Vf ierffwe,

Patented Dec. 25, 1928i.

UNITED STATES 1,696,686 PATENT OFFICE.'

ARTHUR R. MCARTHUR, OF GARY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, vOF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. n

APPARATUS FOR CROVNING ANNEALING BOXES.

Application led March 24, 1926.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for crowning used annealing boxes which have become collapsed and distorted in use, and has for its object the provision of a novel method of and appara-tus for use in the mill and which will re-crown the boxes quickly while they are cold.

Another object is to provide a novel apparatus for carrying out my novel method, which may be operated by the cra-nemen in the mill during their spare time.

By the use of my novel method and apparatus the annealing boxes are kept in good Working condition without the usual shop cost for re-crowning Ithe boxes, and with out the loss of use of the boxes for any extended time.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel apparatus showing an annealing box in place.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan on the line IVIV of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates the base of my apparatus, which is composed of a plurality of I-beams 2 secured together to form a rigid structure.

The annealing box B to be reecrowned is adapted to be positioned on the base A and to be held against vertical movement by clamping yokes 3 and 4 mounted adjacent each end of the basef The annealing boxes are adapted to be moved into and out of position by the usual slings 5 suspended from a crane (not shown).

The clamping yokes 3 and 4 are mounted on shafts 6 and 7 respectively, which are journaled in the base A, and one leg of each of the yokes extends downwardly a material distance beyond the shafts 6 and 7 forming lever portions 8 and 9 respectively.

The lever portions 8 and 9 of the yokes are connected by links 10 and 11 respectively, to the lower end of a plunger rod 12 of a fluid pressure operating cylinder 13.

The cylinder 13 is mounted on Athe base A, and a shield 14 is mounted on the base to prevent the boxes B striking the cylinder when being positioned on or taken from the base.

Fluid is admitted to the cylinder 13 Serial No. 97,052.

through a port 15 lto raise the plunger 16 and plunger rod 12, and is admitted through aport 17 to force the plunger 16 and rod 12 downwardly.

lVhen it is desired to position a box B on the base A, fluid is admitted through the port 15 to raise the plunger 16 and rod 12, thus pulling the links 10 and 11 upwardly, which in turn will pull the lever portions 8 and 9 inwardly so as to rock the shafts 6 and 7 and move the yokes 3 and 4 outwardly. The box B will then be swung into position on the base A, and fluid will be admitted Ito the cylinder 13 through the port 17 to force the plunger 16 and rod 12 downwardly, which will force the links 1() and 11 down and thus force the lever portions 8 and 9 outwardly so as to rock the shafts 6 and 7 and move the yokes 3 and 4 over the box B.

A hydraulic jack 19 of standard design is mounted at approximately the center of the base A.` The jack 19 has its plunger 2O provided with a heavy weight-head 21 of suflicient weight to collapse or retract the jack when the fluid pressure is released.

After the box B has been positioned on the base A and the yokes 3 and 4 have been moved over the box to prevent upward movement of the box, fluid under pressure will be admitted to the jack 19 to move the plunger 2O and weight-head 21 upwardly against the underside of the top of the box so as to engage the collapsed crown portion C of the box. The head 21 engages the top of the box B at approximately its central portion, and the pressure in the jack is increased until the head 21 has forced or pushed the collapsed crown portion C upwardly beyond the point of dead center, when it will spring back into crown position.

The operation of re-crowning an annealing box takes but a few minutes and can readily be done on the mill floor .by lthe regular annealing crane crews during spare minutes, thus eliminating the labor cost and at the same time eliminating the shop cost heretofore necessary for re-crowning the boxes besides the cost of transporting the boxes to and from the shop.

While I have shown and described one specic form of apparatus and certain specilic steps of my method, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various modilications may be made without departing from the scope oi' my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for crowning annealing boxes, comprising a` base, a pair of clamping yokes pivotally secured to said base and adapted to be swung into and out of position over the annealing box to be crowned to hold said box against vertical movement relative to' said base, a fluid pressure cylinder for operating said yokes, and a power operated jack mounted on said base and adapted to be operated to force the top of the annealing box upwardly into crowned position.

2. An apparatus for crowning annealing boxes, comprising a base, a pair of clamping yolzes pivotally secured to said base and adapted to be swung into and out of position over the annealing box to be crowned, to

hold said box against vertical movement relative to said base, a fluid pressure cylinder for operating said yokes, and a fluid pressure operated jack mounted on said base and adapted to be operated to force the top of the annealing` box upwardly into crowned position.

3.An apparatus for crowning annealing boxes, comprising` a base, a pair of clamping yokes pivotally secured to said base and adapted to be swung into and out of position over the annealing box to be crowned, to hold said box against vertical movement relative to said base7 means for operating said yoles7 and a power operated jack mounted on said base and adapted to be operated to force the top of the annealing box upwardly into crowned position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR B. MCARTIFIUR. 

